Scrappers beat Connecticut on walk-off homer

July 27, 2016 at 12:08a.m.

NILES

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Tuesday celebrated Christmas in July.

Santa Claus and his elves roamed the Eastwood Field stands. Christmas carols played throughout the night. And on the field, Scrappers right fielder Silento Sayles offered up the ultimate gift to 2,079 Scrappers fans.

Sayles belted a two-out, two-strike, three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Scrappers to a 6-3 win over the Connecticut Tigers.

The Scrappers, who entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-2, were 0-17 this year when trailing after eight innings.

With the victory, the Scrappers (17-21) have now won five straight, and 12 of their last 16 games. They earned their first series sweep of the season.

“I had it in my mind, I said if I get up I’m going for the fences,” Sayles said. “If opportunity knocks, I’m definitely going for the fences.”

“I missed the first two pitches, but didn’t lose confidence. The next pitch was a fast ball right there, and I didn’t miss it.”

Trailing by a run, the Scrappers opened the bottom of the ninth with a Jack Goihl walk. Todd Isaacs attempted to bunt pinch-runner Erlin Cerda to second, but instead a throwing error put runners on first and second.

Alexis Pantoja sacrificed both runners up a base on a bunt, then Cerda scored and Gabriel Mejia reached base on a fielding error. That set the stage for Sayles’ heroics.

“The last time I hit (a walk-off) was in 2013, my rookie year in the Arizona League,” Sayles said. “This felt great. This club is really coming together as a team. I think early on we were battling more as individuals. Now we’re playing for each other. We’re playing like a team.”

Connecticut scored single runs in three consecutive innings, all off Scrappers starter Juan Hillman.

Hillman (2-2) entered the game with a 1.89 ERA, but was touched up for seven hits in his four innings of work.

The Scrappers scored runs in the fourth and sixth to stay within reach and give themselves the opportunity to rally.

The Scrappers offense, ranked last in the New York-Penn League three weeks ago, has since added .047 points to their batting average.

“It’s just been guys ready to hit, it’s been guys being on time with their swings,” said Scrappers hitting coach Justin Toole. “Guys are putting together good at-bats and making adjustments.”

“The biggest thing in terms of putting runs across the board is our ability to get two-out hits. It has allowed us to extend innings and give guys opportunities. Guys are just ready to hit.”

Toole said the Scrappers’ recent success has been a total team effort.

“Pretty much up and down the lineup, everyone has made improvements,” Toole said. “Even some of the guys whose averages might not show it, they have definitely made adjustments to their game that has made them better hitters.”

“It’s been fun the past couple of weeks just to see the improvements of not one or two, but pretty much everyone on the roster.”

The Scrappers will enjoy a day off today before beginning a three-game series on Thursday at Aberdeen.